Federal Budget Cuts Could Hit Air Travel

With federal budget cuts looming, airports and airlines across the country are feeling the possibility of sequestration.    

47,000 FAA employees would face the possibility of furlough.

Longer security lines and less flights are just a couple changes that could soon become reality if federal budget cuts are put into place.  

"Once airlines see the potential impact of these furloughs we expect that they will change their schedules and cancel flights," said Ray LaHood

LaHood told congress that if federal budget cuts are enacted, major changes are ahead. 

"We are beginning today discussions with out unions to likely close more than 100 traffic control towers at airports with fewer than 150,000 flight operations per year," said LaHood. 

If furloughed, aviation employees would not work one day out of the week, shrinking the number of people on the job each day by about 10 percent. 

Locally, it's unknown the exact impact the possible furlough would have but Craig Williams with the Fort Wayne Allen County Airport authority says they are prepared for the looming budget cuts. 

"It's the game they are playing in Washington and we will keep an eye on it and when we get definitive information we will adjust from there," said Williams.   

To maintain safety regulations Federal aviation officials say less staff, means fewer flights.

"Right now we are planning on continuing the same high level of safety that we always attempt to do everyday," said Williams. 

Transportation Security Administration employees would also be furloughed--meaning longer security lines. 

Williams says the airport authority has yet to receive specific information on how the possible budget cuts would impact the Fort Wayne international airport making it difficult to prepare for what lies ahead.